‘Delay’ to vie for foreign language Oscar nom

Rodrigo Pla's family drama will rep Uruguay

Uruguay has opted to send Rodrigo Pla’s family drama “La Demora” (The Delay) to vie for a foreign language Oscar nomination.

A committee formed by various guilds representing Uruguay’s film industry led by critics org ACCU, actors guild Sociedad Uruguaya de Actores and Uruguay’s state-run film institute, selected “La Demora” out of a dozen pics that included toon “Selkirk” and comedy “Flacas Vacas” (Thin Cows).

Inspired by actual events, drama centers on a harried woman with three school-age kids and a senile father, whom she decides to abandon on a park bench when she can’t cope anymore.

“La Demora” is produced by Uruguay’s Mabuchi Cine and Mexico’s Lulu Prods. in association with Memento Films, France. Pla’s wife Laura Santullo, who also wrote his first two pics “La Zona” and “Desierto Adentro,” penned the drama.

Pic world preemed in Berlin where it took home the Ecumenical Jury prize.

Meanwhile, Cuba has decided that none of this year’s releases made the cut to represent the country at the Oscars. However, Alejandro Brugues’ box office hit “Juan de los muertos” was chosen to rep Cuba at Spain’s Goya Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the five nominees for best foreign film on Jan. 10. The 85th Academy Awards ceremony takes place Feb. 24.